The Manager Doesn't Understand Target's Coupon Policy

That's when I pocket the coupon and either use it later or use it
somewhere else.

I rarely use coupons. I don't spend the time to clip and organize
them and I sometimes become impatient when I am behind a big time
coupon user in line.

However, even I knew that she should have been able to use this
coupon.

And yes, in some cases "no" DOES equal rude. This is one of those
cases. The reason is that he had no business saying no in the first
place. He isn't an owner, he is a manager. He is expected to be
informed of policies and use good judgement. This was clearly no
someone trying to scam the store and if he was willing to let her
stand there for that long, he had plenty of time to go look up his
companies policy or make a phone call and confirm that he understood
correctly.

He blew it and probably lost this customer over 2 bucks.

I wouldn't have spent the time she did, but no matter how any of us
view that, she is 100% correct in her complaint.

She is due the coupon, if she makes her purchase.

She should get an apology, although it should suffice to come from the
company, not from him.

He does need additional training.

And while her purchase history is irrelevant, I don't thik she is
wrong to bring it up - we all know how much effort Target puts into
tracking our history to better market to us, so why not point out yojr
patronage?

And lastly, she didn't ask for any special treatment - she asked that
they follow their own policy. She should not have to educate them on
what it is.

They should have taken it if it's a Manufacturer's Coupon....since the
manufacturer reimburses the store for that amount. Target is out
nothing by accepting the coupon. I've actually redeemed coupons where
the store ended up paying ME for the item if it was on sale and the
coupon took it below zero.

The only caviate should be if the coupon read it was not able to be
combined with other discounts and/or sales. Otherwise, contact the
coupon maker and tell them Target refused it.

you are right. In that the principle ALWAYS involves money, you are
correct. However, the fact remains, it usually is the principle.
Think about it. WHY would anyone waste 30 minutes over $2 or less, IF
it were about the money? It's about honoring what you said you would
do.

I have two extremely minimal expectations of a company:
*Do what you said you would do.
If a company cant keep its promises, dont make them. I have more
respect for a company that does not make a guarantee than I do for a
company that does, and cannot deliver.
*If you make a mistake, fix it.
Very few things are more irritating than a company making an error,
and then not owning up to it. Or worse, blaming the customer, for
THEIR screw ups. (Ever had that done? I have. Get tired of it). But,
with lawsuits, companies today deny responsibility. Such a shame.
Sadly, very few companies can live up to these minimal standards. Why?
Because we allow companies to lower the bar; and they will and do,
every time we let them.

I absolutely agree that the coupon should have been accepted. Almost
every retailer I know has the ability to mark the coupon down to the
actual price. It's kind of like a price adjustment.

At the end of the day, however, we're talking about $1.99. I'm not
sure it's worth the time of standing in line for 20 minutes on hold
with customer service, getting worked up into a lather, having to go
to another store and do the shopping, all over $1.99. I'd probably
have just said "keep the butter, I'll deal with it later," and bought
it on my next trip.

http://www.target.com/HelpContent?help=%2Fsites%2Fhtml%2FTargetOnline%
2Fhelp%2Fpromotions_sweepstakes_and_discounts%2Ftarget_coupon_policy%2
Ftarget_coupon_policy.html

There is nothing in it about not accepting coupons on sale items. In
fact, it does specifically reference coupons which exceed the price of
the item - the coupon amount may be reduced if it exceeds the price of
the item however it doesn't say the coupon will be declined.

While I'm not able to see the customer's original coupon, I did print
off another Land O Lakes butter coupon from their site and there is no
restriction on using them for sale items...only that one coupon per
item may be used.

Every indication is that the manager was wrong for saying no and the
customer was correct in calling him out for it. And, if by chance,
this store has it's own coupon policy which contradicts the company's
overall policy, kudos to the customer for bringing this to corporate's
attention.

I see absolutely nothing in your complaint to inducate that the
manager was rude to you.

So, you do NOT deserve a "formal apology" and the manager should NOT
be required to undergo extensive customer service training.

I agree with you. He should have taken $1.99 off your total bill.

on managing to put all the classic lines into one letter...

- claiming that no=rude
- that the employees need 'training'
- apology demand
- blaming the staff for the OP's own decisions on arguing.
- letting them know just how much she spends / loyal customer
- make me the exception to your policy


the only things missing are... demanding freebies and threatening to
get everyone they know to boycott the store.

It is NOT RUDE to tell a customer "no".

You asked to be an exception to the rules and they told you "no".


You want them to be "better trained"... on what? They did their job
correctly. You can't combine coupons and sales.




And no... the manager did NOT keep you in line arguing. YOU kept
yourself in line arguing when you refused to accept being told "no".

You don't like the rules? Don't like not being the magic special
exception? This is not THEIR problem.

There is no requirement that any store HAS to take a coupon. They can
refuse if they wish.

Target is one of those stores that plays by their own rules when it
comes to coupons and why I don't use them for grocery shopping.
Honestly, they tend to be more expensive than my local grocery store
and even Aldi or Save A Lot.

OK, that right there? I have a MAJOR problem with that.

If you are wrong, or even if you SUSPECT you might be and are
requesting something outside what is accepted by the store, where do
you come to the conclusion that by virtue of your "customer" status
that you should be permitted to violate said rules and be granted your
request just to "make you happy?"

I hate to say, even though it WAS just a penny, the entitled attitude
and presumptive nature of the request ("since the store will no doubt
be able to get reimbursed for the coupon") would have put me off
immediately too if I were that manager.

So if the manager can be subjected to "customer service training" can
bad customers be subjected to "customer appropriateness" training?

Umm, no. YOU kept you in line arguing over a penny for over 30
minutes. He told you he couldn't accept the coupon, but you wouldn't
accept his answer. I wouldn't think to try and use a coupon on a sale
item. If I did but they turned me down, I would understand why. You
owe him a formal apology. Good customer service doesn't mean a
company has to fold every time a customer wants to argue (even though
that customer admits they may be wrong). If that's how you usually
conduct yourself, I wouldn't make much effort to keep you as a
customer.

I know quite a few places that wont accept coupons for either
a) items already on sale
b) if the coupon makes it so the store owes you money

I tried using a $2.50 off coupon for body wash while they were buy one
get one and the store wouldnt let me because it would have cost me
$1.00 for 2

Lowes wont take a coupon if they cant scan it.

I dont think the manager was rude, he stated policy. You wanted to
argue, and stand there blocking a line for 20 minutes (your lucky I
wasnt behind you, or stuck in another line while you held up a
register then you would have seen rude).

i think you overreacting over a 2.00 coupon. i also have been shopping
at Target for over 30 years. there have been a few problems with
coupons but not to the point of not returning. if they can't take it
so what? the world does go on. i use coupons and i even stack them. i
blame the extreme couponers anyway. they are the ones ruining it for
everyone else. take into consideration every manager is different. the
bottom line is get over it life is too short to quibble over a piece
of paper.

This might have something to do with Land O Lakes also. I know their
coupons say "do not double. They do have other restrictions and one
may well be that you can not use the coupon if the item cost less then
the coupon amount,